Boxing glove



J. ORSINI BOXING GLOVE Oct. 6, 1936.

Filed Aug. 29, 1955 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 s 2,056,326 BOXING GLovn g I Josephfor'sini, Clairton, Pa. I K Application August 29, 1935, Serial No. 3s,4e7-

3 Claims. (c1; 2-5 -18) This invention relates 'to imp'rolvements 'in boxing gloves and more particularlytheelimination of many'of the objections'now present in the .usual boxingglove. 'Itxis customaryiin' con- ;.5 nection with boxing bouts, for the contestants-to come into the ring with their hands taped without gloves. so that thexseconds. and referees may examine the hands to see that no foreign material has been inserted in the glove up or underneath theibandagewhile in'thedressing room. After the hands have been examined, the gloves are placed on the contestants in their respective corners. The lacing of the gloves requires considerable time and results in much delay. The crowd is on edge as well as the contestants and such delays lead to impatience on the part of the crowd and sometimes harmful results. By eliminating the necessity for lacing the gloves, many advantages are ob- 20 tained which will be hereinafter set out. It is a common practice among unscrupulous ,contestants to strike with the face of the open glove and more particularly that portion which is laced. This is commonly known as heeling. The laces raked across the face during the progress of the blow will cut the skin and open up a flesh wound. If eyelets are present, the cutting is aggravated. If they are eliminated, the process of lacing the glove is beset with added difficulties and delay. It is highly desirable to present a smooth unbroken surface on the face of the glove.

Another serious objection to the present boxing glove resides in the lack of protection to the thumb. In striking, many times the thumb, which has no support, is injured. Also, having. the thumb portion unsupported, leads to a practice known as thumbing in which the thumb is thrust into the opponents eye. Again one of the contestants will throw a blow for the throat, fall into a clinch, and as the blow is delivered, open the hand, choking the opponent or striking the Adams apple with that portion of the hand between the forefinger and thumb. My invention will largely eliminate the objections enumerated, and not only will protect the wearer, but eliminate some of the practices outlined.

One of the objects of my invention is to present a smooth face glove, eliminate laces on the 50 face thereof, and provide a glove which may be quickly drawn on with all the advantages without any of the disadvantages of the use of laces.

Another object is to provide a web between the thumb portion and the remainder of the glove so that the forefinger will be drawn inwardly toward the adjacent-portion of that glove, theweb presenting substantially; parallel sides. :Still another object is: toiprovide alace secured-to the back-of the glove so that the same glove which is approximately the wrist of the wearer, to give the added support necessary,

l-iendat the same time be awayfrom the: strikingheel. 3 --.Other objects will bedisclosedin thespecification and drawing forming a part of this application.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a side elevation; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 5 designates a boxing glove having a back 6, thumb l, and face 8, of the usual construction with a V-shaped gusset 9 of elastic material inserted in the face 8 of the glove 5 and extending from the outer edge of the cuff ID to a point constituting the heel H of the glove 5. The gusset 9 preferably is of double thickness and has elastic strands 12 running crosswise of the opening I3 in which the gusset 9 is placed. Piping M extends around the opening l3 to provide as smooth a surface as possible. The elastic gusset 9 avoids the necessity for the leather tongue commonly used in boxing gloves where lacing is provided, and at the same time eliminates the use of laces on the face of the glove.

The cuff I is so shaped that with the aid of the gusset 9 a close fit will be provided; and tape l secured to the back of the cuff It] can be drawn around the front and again to the back and tied to further support the wrist. Secured does not necessarily mean permanently secured, as the tape may be held in place on the cuff by various methods without departing from the spirit of my invention. Between the thumb I and the finger portion I6 of the glove 5 is secured a substantially rectangular web I! which connects the thumb portion 1 to the finger portion l6, pulling the thumb slightly inwardly and to the front so that the thumb instead of flaring outwardly has a tendency to be directed inwardly. This permits a certain amount of freedom for the thumb, which is necessary in closing the glove,

will: not become detached andwill permit the '5 winding of thet-samei-around the cuff of the but prevents the thumb being turned out, and at the same time it gives support.

As actually used, the gloves may be placed on the contestants in the ring without the necessity of lacing the same, it only being necessary to insert the hands of the contestants in the gloves, the elastic gusset 9 causing the cuff to snugly fit around the wrists of the contestants. The tape can then quickly be drawn around the front or" the cuff and back to the rear where it can be secured. This gives all of the advantages of the old construction, with none of its disadvantages. By having the web IT substantially the same width at the top as at the bottom, the thumb portion 1 is drawn inwardly toward the finger portion l6, and the advantages previously set forth are obtained. By having the gusset! flush with the adjacent portions of the glove, a flat, smooth surface is obtained which protects the contestants, preventing the cutting of the face by way of heeling and other practices.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by personsskilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention. I, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claims. 7 V

What I claim is:

1. A boxing glove having a back and face and divided into finger and thumb portions, a cuff extending around the bottom of the glove, the back and cuff portions being padded, the face having an opening extending from the outer edge of the cuff through the cuff to a point removed from said cufi, a gusset of elastic material in said opening secured to the edges of said opening and substantially flush with the face of said glove.

2. A boxing glove having a back and face and divided into finger and thumb portions, a cufi' extending around the bottom of the glove, the back and cuff portions being padded, tape secured to the back of said glove and having loose ends extending from the back of said glove adapted to pass around the cuff in front and be secured in the rear, the face having an opening extending from the cuff to a point removed from said cuif, a gusset of elastic material in said opening secured to the edges of said opening and substantially flush with the face of said glove.

3. A boxing glove having a back and face and divided into finger and thumb portions, a padded cufl around the bottom of the glove presenting a continuous unbroken surface, said cufi including yieldable elastic means permitting free passage of the hand therethrough while insuring a close fit around the wrist, and auxiliary wrist supporting means comprising a tape attached intermediate its free ends to the glove, the free ends of the tape adapted to pass around the cuff and be secured together to maintain the glove in desired operable position on the hand.

JOSEPH ORSINI. 

